Chinese Railroad Workers Memorial Project

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We thank our generous sponsors for their support

  • AT&T
  • CACA
  • HSBC
  • UCRFA
  • Sing Tao
  • CHSA
  • Hilton San Francisco Financial District
  • APAPA
  • Yin Foundation
  • Kenson Ventures

Updated Timeline & Location

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The U.S. Department of Labor recently added the Chinese Railroad Workers to its Hall of Honor. The Chinese Railroad Workers are one of a few pioneers that do not have a significant monument that pays tribute to their work and lives lost while working in the harsh Sierra’s mountain ranges. In Fall 2015, our goal is to install the new Monument in time to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the first group of Chinese Railroad Workers hired for this vast historic East West connection.

Timeline

  • February2014

    Under the Chinese Historical Society of America, the Chinese Railroad Monument Memorial Project was created under CHSA. 501 (C) infrastructure. Website designed, Executive and volunteer committees created.

  • Apr–Sept2014

    Artist search and national outreach begins.

  • October2014

    18 artist applicants received – standing by

    Presentations and Fundraisers continue to raise 50 % of the goal target

  • May2015

    Fundraiser – National Asian Heritage Month

    150-year celebration of the first Chinese railroad workers hired

    The Asian Pacific American Public Affairs host month long fundraiser

    Opening gala – California Railroad History Museum – Sacramento, California

    Closing gala – Paying Tribute to Chinese railroad workers descendants in entertainment – Celebrity Actress Nancy Kwan honored.

    Far East Cafe (founded by former Chinese railroad worker) – San Francisco, California

    Combined cities efforts raised $100,000 net profit – ticket sales, sponsorships, and pledges

  • November2015

    Special 3 member’s Professional Artist Selection Committee formed:

    Jay Xu – Executive Director of San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum, Committee Chair

    Abby Chen – Curator and Deputy Director of the Chinese Cultural Center Foundation

    Laura Boles Faw – Artist and Visiting Faculty at San Francisco Art Institute

  • Dec 312015

    50% of the $400,000 construction budget raised through fundraisers and pledges

  • Jan 222016

    Applying Artist Public Exhibit

    Two artists will be selected to compete for the final contract to build the final Monument. One will be selected by the people of the Community. Another by the Professional ​Artist Selection ​Committee.

    Hilton Hotel – Financial district – public voting kickoff

    18-artist applicant exhibit – one day at the Hilton Hotel

    One-week public display at the Chinese Historical Society of America

    Simultaneous online display for national voting

  • Feb2016

    People’s choice artist selection

    Five semi-finalist artists were chosen by the public. Votes were counted by the Executive Committee.

  • July2016

    At the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, the special three member’s Professional Artist Selection Committee privately deliberated on the entire 18 artists, including the people’s choice selection. They additional selected three more artists to compete as the professional Artist selection choice. The people’s and professional choices were notified in order of preference, to reconfirm their interest in the project.

  • Dec 52016

    Arranged by the retired Mayor and Councilman of Auburn, CA, Michael Holmes. A successful meeting with the Placer County Supervisor Jennifer Montgomery and the City Attorney was made to close the deal for Placer County sponsor the maintenance of the new monument. Endowment fund to be created. Deal Approved.

  • May2017

    Historic Train / Bus trip to the Sierras

    Both semi finalists are required to attend a historic narrated train / bus tour from Emeryville to the California Railroad Museum, the Monument site at Gold Run, Donnor Lake, Reno, NV.

    Press conference to be held in Sacramento to present the $4,000 stipend awarded to both finalists used to create a three-to-four-feet clay version monument sample of each artist’s vision. General public are welcome to join by advance ticket purchase.

  • June2017

    All documentation and permits issued for construction completed. Concrete Base Design and drawings submitted to CalTrans for approval. Bids go out to local Contractors to build the pedestal. Construction to commence, and to be finished before winter.

  • Dec2017

    Who will go the Sierras?

    Asian Art Museum – San Francisco Civic Center – Final public voting kickoff – TBA. Two finalists will exhibit their mockup samples – Location to be announced, simultaneous online display for national voting.

    Fundraising continues. Artist begins to create the full size monument for the Sierra rest stop.

  • Jan2018

    Statue bronzing process bids go out to the Foundries

    Transportation & Installations companies bids go out

  • Spring2018

    Final installation of the monument and donor wall plaques installed

  • Fall2018

    Project completed

  • May2019

    Official Unveiling Ceremony

    National Asian Heritage Month – Ceremony for the unveiling of the monument

    150 years after the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad at the GOLD RUN, California

Location

Located at a rest stop off of Interstate 80, at Dutch Flats, near Gold Run, the Placer County Historical Society placed a marker where the Chinese workers first started working on the Transcontinental Railroad. With the full support of the PCHS and CALTRANS, our new monument will replace the large marker rock that the organization placed in 2009.

Click to View Map
Click to View Map
Original track bed of the Transcontinental Railroad
Original track bed of the Railroad

Caltrans has offered its support for the project and we are coordinating together to ensure the monument is constructed and installed properly:

letter-of-support-caltrans-793x1024

The project would not be possible without our friends from the Placer County Historical Society. Pictured below, from right to left:

  • Bill George, Writer
  • Michael Otten, President of the Historic Society
  • George Loy, Historian
  • James Williamson, CalTrans
  • Susan & Ed Chandler, Landscape Architects

team-placer-county-historical-society-960x720

The CRRW Memorial Project

965 Clay Street, San Francisco, CA 94108

(415) 391-1188  |  info@crrwmemorialproject.com

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Chinese Railroad Workers Memorial Project is under CHSA #94-6122446 501(c)(3) Nonprofit | © 2023